always for her; and as she was a great reader, new books were continually
brought in; but nothing seemed to have power to put a smile of satisfaction
on her thin, wasted face.

Poor Catalina! It was certainly true--I didn't love her very much. I was so
accustomed to see my sister in her invalid state that her pitiful condition
didn't seem to move me, and she was always in such a bad humor that I only
went to see her on rare occasions.

However, on this particular afternoon, I had, of course, a great desire to
carry her the news of our cousin's coming, and so I gladly went to visit
her; but forgetting all the warnings of Rosa I burst open the door like a
gust of wind.

Catalina was lying with her face toward the wall with the curtains of the
bed partly drawn, and a green shade had been placed over the cages of the
two birds in order to stop their singing. Under other circumstances I would
have prudently retired, thinking that Catalina, more irritated or sicker
than usual, was endeavoring to sleep. Doubtless our old servant had come in
to speak to her regarding Paula, and finding her apparently asleep had
arranged things as I found them. She turned her head on hearing me come in
and in a sharp tone exclaimed, "What a noise, Lisita! Can't you give me a
single quiet moment!"

"You know I haven't been here all day!" I answered impatiently. "In fact, I
haven't been here since yesterday morning, and besides, I forgot that Rosa
told me that you had a headache."

"Well, you know it now!"